StarzPlay
partners
with
Fremantle
S
VoD service StarzPlay has struck
a partnership with production
company Fremantle. The agreement
includes Fremantle’s Euston Films crime
series Baghdad Central, written and created
by the BAFTA-nominated writer Stephen
Butchard and based on the novel by Elliott
Colla.
The deal also features the epic
drama The Luminaries, starring Eva Green
and Eve Hewson, based on the Man Booker
prize winning novel by Eleanor Catton. Both
series will be available on StarzPlay later in
2020.
Additionally, the psychological
thriller Dublin Murders, is now available
on StarzPlay. Adapted from Tana French’s
first two novels in the Dublin Murder
Squad crime series, the show is from
Fremantle’s Euston Films and is written and
created by Sarah Phelps (And Then There
Were None, The Casual Vacancy).
MBC repurposes crime
thriller for MENA
MBC Studios, the Dubai-
based production company,
and Lebanon-based Eagle
Films, are launching thriller
crime series Blood Oath
on Shahid, the first Arabic
language video on demand
“Since we first
launched, we
have always
retained a focus
on the provision
of in-demand,
watchable
content for our
subscribers”
“Since we
first launched,
we have always
retained a
focus on the
provision of
in-demand,
watchable future shows on the platform over the
course of the year and beyond.”
“StarzPlay is one of the leading platforms
in the MENA region for showcasing
premium and in-demand programming, so
we are proud to be partnering with them on
these world-class dramas,” added Anahita
Kheder, SVP Middle East, Africa & South
content for our
subscribers
and this latest
partnership
is testament to that commitment,”
commented Maaz Sheikh, co-founder and
CEO, StarzPlay. “Responsible for some of the
most viewed content in the world, we are
excited about our latest partnership with
Fremantle and look forward to unveiling Eastern Europe, International, Fremantle. “At
Fremantle, bringing bold and cutting-edge
shows to the forefront has long been at the
very core of what we do, and in this sense,
we are very much aligned with StarzPlay’s
goals, making them the perfect home
for these high-end titles. Their audiences
will soon be able to enjoy the compelling
characters and powerful storylines that
these series offer.”
TV catchup service for
MENA. MBC Studios is global
distributor for the 10×1 hour
series.
Originally produced in
Serbia in 2018 by Adrenalin
as Besa, a crime thriller
series format created by
Tony Jordan, the acclaimed
UK screenwriter who counts
BBC staples EastEnders and
Hustle among his credits.
Blood Oath was shot in
Lebanon, Greece and Cyprus.
Adapted for Arabic
audiences from the original
plot, and co-written and
adapted by Jordan, Blood
Oath tells of the struggle of
a small businessman who
falls foul of an
organised crime
mafia and, fearing
for his family, is
forced to work for
them.
“The storylines
in Blood Oath
are precisely
adapted for local
audiences, but
also work for
international
markets; at MBC
we are continuing
to produce compelling, high
quality content that appeals
to viewers around the world,”
explained Safa Aburizik,
director of content at MBC
studios.
“Having experienced
tremendous success in the
local market, Besa is the first
Serbian series to be sold and
adapted as a format,” added
Tea Korolija, managing
director of Adrenalin.
“Adrenalin is currently
preparing for a second
season which we believe will
be even more successful.”
Pete Smith, CEO of
MBC studios, initiated the
development of locally-
produced drama in 2018
– these include Beirut
Bride and Blood Oath, with
more projects slated for
development.
MENA Special EUROMEDIA 3